Friday in Hawkville

WORD OF THE DAY
Defense. As in, the Seahawks are expecting a lot from this unit – especially early in the season, when the offense will be playing without leading receiver Bobby Engram, wide receiver Deion Branch and right tackle Sean Locklear.

Perhaps the biggest area of concern with the defense is its ability to stop the run on the road. That’s beyond pertinent this week, with Bills running back Marshawn Lynch waiting for them in Buffalo on Sunday.

In three of their final four road games last season, the Seahawks allowed rushing averages of 5.0, 4.3 and 6.7 yards to the Eagles, Falcons and Packers. In their third preseason game, the starters were gashed by Chargers running back Darren Sproles.

Holmgren said it was a matter of aftershocks.

“We’ve studied it hard,” he said. “What we thought was, on the road, when we got shocked – either by a big play or a bad thing happening – it took us a while to recover and then that let to something else.”

PLAYER OF THE DAY
Mike Wahle. The team’s starting left guard – and biggest offseason acquisition, as Holmgren said several times this summer – was not on the field at the start of practice.

Unsettling? Unnerving? Unfathomable? Yeah, all that.

But Wahle finally emerged during the 7-on-7 passing drill, when the linemen were off doing their thing on a far corner of the field. He was greeted by applause, and then hugs.

His wife, Trina, had their second child this morning – Maddox, a son.

The Seahawks had arranaged for Wahle to meet them in Buffalo, but he was able to travel with the team this afternoon. Not, however, before an anxious moment for Holmgren.

“(Offensive line coach Mike) Solari came up to me this morning and said, ‘Did you hear about Mike Wahle?’ I go, ‘Oh! What?’ ” he said.

Talk about labor pains.

PLAYS OF THE DAY
Offense: Wide receiver Nate Burleson controlled a Matt Hasselbeck pass with his left hand and then made the catch in the end zone.

Defense: Cornerback Kelly Jennings ripped a pass from the grasp of a receiver in the end zone.

POSITION WATCH
Kickoff returner. It will be Josh Wilson, who averaged 27.5 yards on 15 kickoff returns last season.

Punt returner? That remains a game-day decision, Holmgren reiterated.

“When we line ’em up, you’ll see who’s catching it,” he said.

POSITIONS OF CONCERN
Flanker and center. Courtney Taylor, who will start at flanker because Engram and Branch are out, dropped two passes in practice. On the first, Holmgren dropped his head and it took him a few minutes to recover. On the second, Holmgren ran his hand over the top of his head several times.

At center, Chris Spencer has returned to practice fulltime and will start. But he missed all of training camp and all but one of the preseason games.

“The question I would have is his stamina for the game,” Holmgren said. “He hasn’t played much, and now he’s going to have to play the whole game.”

If Spencer needs a breather, backup Steve Vallos will step in.

INJURY REPORT
Branch (knee) and Engram (knee) are out for this game. Locklear (knee) is listed as doubtful on the official injury report that was released today, but Holmgren said it is highly unlikely Locklear will play.

“Again, the process is to get Deion feeling good about what he’s asked to do,” Holmgren said.

This morning, Branch took some snaps in the full-team portion of practice for the first time, but he did not catch a pass.

“Next week, a little bit more, maybe get him into some competitive things,” Holmgren said. “At some point, he has to do that just to know he can do that. That’s the big hurdle now.”

Pro Bowl middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu participated fully in every phase of the padless, 75-minute practice and will start. He is listed as probable, along with defensive end Baraka Atkins (back).